Latest news with #DaleRoberts
TimesLIVE
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Pot Luck Club's London debut
One of South Africa's most acclaimed restaurants, The Pot Luck Club, is heading to London for a three-month residency at the Waldorf Hilton — also known as the Waldorf London — a grand Edwardian landmark in the heart of Covent Garden. From mid-August, the Pot Luck Club will take over the hotel's flagship restaurant, Homage. Set near the Royal Opera House, the Waldorf has been a fixture in the capital's cultural and hospitality landscape since it opened in 1908. Founded by William Waldorf Astor, it was one of the first hotels in London to combine luxurious accommodation with a full social experience, offering everything from elegant dinners to refined afternoon teas. The London residency is a natural extension for The Pot Luck Club. Cape Town's restaurant scene is highly seasonal, with a surge of visitors in summer and quieter during winter. Add to that the explosion of new high-quality openings in the city, and it has created a more competitive environment — making this timing spot on for an international pop-up in summer. This isn't the first global outing for celebrated chef and founder Luke Dale Roberts, who has taken Pot Luck to Verbier and Andermatt in Switzerland, and Test Kitchen to the Shangri-La Le Touessrok in Mauritius, as well as guest appearances around the world. Known for putting fine dining on the map in South Africa, Dale Roberts has built a global following with his inventive, flavour-packed small plates and bold approach to 'global tapas'. Since opening on top of Cape Town's Old Biscuit Mill in 2012, The Pot Luck Club has drawn crowds for its punchy, eclectic menu and striking city views. For the London residency, Dale Roberts and his Cape Town team will personally oversee the launch, with sous chef Rachel Maroun staying on to lead the kitchen for part of the time. Dale Roberts has been in discussion with hotel operators since the Covid-19 lockdowns, and stayed in touch as new opportunities emerged. There will be fewer dishes than at the Pot Luck Club in Cape Town and the team has been rehearsing fervently. The menu will include some Pot Luck family favourites. Diners can expect smoked beef fillet with truffle café au lait, Springbok tataki with mandarin gastrique and Cape Malay-spiced vegetarian dishes — all underpinned by British produce and seasonal ingredients. 'As a Brit, there's something meaningful about returning in this way, partnering with one of London's landmark hotels and sharing what we've built in Cape Town with a new audience. We've been fortunate to grow an international following at home and this feels like the natural next step,' says Dale Roberts. 'It's going to carry all the DNA of Pot Luck. Punchy global sharing plates, touches of Cape Malay influence and the very best ingredients we can source in the UK.' The experience goes beyond the food. Service and atmosphere will mirror the relaxed yet refined Cape Town original. The dining space will concentrate on the Pot Luck table set-up and food style, while relying on the old-world charm of the room. Meanwhile, front-of-house and culinary staff from both Cape Town and London have been training, and soft openings will precede the official launch on August 13. A curated cocktail programme will accompany the food, led by the Waldorf's head bartender Abby Long and developed in collaboration with Dale Roberts. Served at The Wild Monkey bar, the drinks menu will feature house-infused cordials, seasonal ingredients and cocktails designed to echo the kitchen's bold flavours. For the first time, a dedicated bar snacks menu — also designed by Dale Roberts — will be offered to complement the drinks. Guy Hilton, area GM at The Waldorf London, says the partnership brings together one of London's landmark hotels and one of South Africa's most celebrated restaurants. Dinner will be served daily from 5pm, with the final seating at 10pm. Diners can choose from an à la carte offering, a shorter prix fixe menu, or indulge in the full tasting experience. For those who can't make it to London, The Pot Luck Club continues to operate in Cape Town and Johannesburg. In the Cape, it's running its Sunday Brunch Winter Extravaganza — a decadent 10-course affair with bottomless bubbles and a standout Bloody Mary DIY station for R1,250 a person. Expect indulgent offerings like oysters topped with trout roe and spicy dressing, cornbread with lobster, brioche with quail egg and an interpretation on the classic Arnold Bennett smoked haddock omelette. There's also risotto, roast lamb served with seasonal vegetables and a trio of desserts: chamomile madeleines, strawberries and cream, and a selection of pastries. The winter brunch offering runs until September 28. In Johannesburg, The Pot Luck Club recently relocated from Rosebank to the elegant yet intimate Peech Hotel in Melrose. Its London residency joins a growing trend of top South African restaurants reaching global audiences. In July, Salsify at the Roundhouse held a two-night collaboration with Michelin-starred Akoko in London — another sign of the country's increasingly confident culinary voice on the world stage.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Woking Borough Council sells scrapped Victoria Arch scheme site
An effectively bankrupt council has sold its stake in a town centre site once set aside for a multi-million pound Borough Council purchased about half a hectare of land between Victoria Road and Guildford Road during a spending spree that contributed to its financial collapse in 2023, according to the Local Democracy Reporting for the site included new homes and the widening of the Victoria Arch railway council's executive scrapped the project four months after declaring itself effectively bankrupt and accepted a bid for the land in June. Network Rail previously told the council that it had no appetite to proceed with the railway works and the scheme was at "no longer either financially practicable or supported by key stakeholders".Finance portfolio holder Dale Roberts described the scheme as "ambitious, but in practical terms, fatally flawed" and "never viable in the way it was configured".He told a meeting of council's executive that the project collapsed due to the local authority's financial problems, but "the seeds of failure were sewn long before that"."We're closing a chapter on a project that could never have delivered," he council has not revealed the sum generated by the sale of the land, but council documents show the "highest financial offer" was local authority's original budget to redevelop the bridge was £115m, but that soon rose to about £ portfolio holder Ian Johnson told the June meeting that problems first began to materialise when existing site residents refused to sell their properties to the council also agreed to sell a site in Commercial Way and Goldsworth Road Industrial Estate.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Woking private school must repay £13m loan as merger announced
A cash-strapped council in Surrey owed more than £13m by a private school wants "immediate discussions" with its governors after they announced a merger with another School in Woking has loans of £13,257,756 from Woking Borough Council, according to documents published to Companies House in revealed on Monday it would be merging with nearby private institution Hoe Bridge School from September 2026 – though neither gave a response when asked about plans to ensure the debt was leader Dale Roberts said the council would pursue "all necessary steps" to secure the repayment of these loans. "Whilst I welcome the planned merger between Greenfield and Hoe Bridge schools, we have been clear that all existing contractual obligations, including the repayment of outstanding loans to Greenfield School, must be honoured in full."We are seeking immediate discussions with the new organisation to set out our expectations and to protect the interests of local taxpayers."The BBC contacted both schools to ask how the combined governing body planned to repay the debt owed by Greenfield.A spokesperson for Hoe Bridge said: "We are glad that the council welcomes our merger announced this week."Not only will this bring two high-quality schools together for the benefit of families in Woking, but it will also provide long-term stability for independent education in the area and the wider local economy."We look forward to continuing our work with the council with these common interests in mind."Greenfield did not was due to repay £2.4m in November last year, but said it was not in a position to do so and instead offered a building it owned in exchange to cover the outstanding March, the council, which has a £2bn debt, said it was taking legal advice to get its money back.
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Surrey: Woking car park to close for significant repairs
A car park in Woking, Surrey, is set to close for significant repairs following a structural review. Victoria Way car park will close for in-bound vehicles from 17:30 GMT on Friday and, according to Woking Borough Council (WBC), will remain closed for the foreseeable future. The council said the current condition of the car park did not pose a risk to public safety but that "substantial repairs" had been recommended. Councillor Dale Roberts, deputy leader and portfolio holder for finance and economy, said: "We are committed to taking a pragmatic approach to the car park's future, considering the cost implications, future maintenance requirements and the evolving parking needs of the town." The council confirmed the closure was not due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in the structure. The car park has 932 spaces and is normally open 24 hours a day. Mr Roberts said the council was working with permit holders to "provide alternative parking arrangements". The council said drivers would have the weekend to remove their cars ahead of a full closure on Monday.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council to request £171m government bailout
A cash-strapped council is expected to ask the government for "an eye-watering" £171m to help it balance its budget. If successful, Woking Borough Council share of tax would likely rise by 2.99% – markedly lower than last year's 10% hike, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The government funds would cover £162.8m in servicing its overhanging £2.1bn debt and £2m to cover normal day-to-day costs. The process has been described as "one of the most difficult" budgets for any borough council to set. On Monday, the council's resource and finance scrutiny committee heard that moves to bring a fully balanced budget to the table would have devastated the authority and residents with mass compulsory redundancies and deep cuts to popular services. Instead, it intends to hit that goal – as councils must by law be able to balance their books over a three-year period by slowing raising fees and charges. Stephen Fitzgerald, the council's chief financial officer, said the situation was "an entirely different place to last year", though far from perfect. "The budget proposals are an important milestone on Woking 's improvement and recovery journey," he said. He described the "considerable turbulence" in public finances, especially in local government. "The overall general fund budget is a fairly eye-watering figure of £162.8m," he added. Whether the budget passes hinges on the government agreeing to financial support – with the council submitting a request for £171.1m. Councillor Dale Roberts, lead member for finance, said: "All discretionary services are being maintained, housing and homelessness have become a crystal-clear priority, and council tax is assumed to be 3% (2.99%) the general increase for district councils. "Naturally, our budget is dependent on government support, but the administration is confident that it is continuing to do everything it can to address historic failings and achieve a balanced budget." Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Council billions in debt sells off more buildings Woking council apologises for financial failings Cash-strapped Woking council mulls more savings Local Democracy Reporting Service Woking Borough Council
